Display-machine.



J. G. C. MANTLE.

DISPLAY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuIY I3, 1909.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

s SHEETS-SHEET' I.

1. G..c. MANTLE. DISPLAY MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED- JULY I3, 1909.

` Patented wat. 26, '19115.v

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ITNESSES:

I. G. C. MANTLE.

. DISPLAY MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I3, 1909.

'Patented OCI. 26, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- lllllll WITNESSES:

4"III ENTOR I. G. C. MANTLE. vDISPLAY MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY I3. 1909.

Patented 066.26, 1915.

6 SHEETSHSHEET 4.

ATTORNE 5 G. C. MANTLE. DISPLAY MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IuLY I3. |909.

C HU M m au Lm Di (i SHEETS-SEEET 5.

www mw WITNESSES: l fa? f5@ Y. .E 2M/L J. G. C. MANTLE.

DISPLAY MACHINE.

APPLICATloN mso luLv I3, 1909.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

nain .aars .arnirr in JOSEPH G.' c. MAN'LLE, or New YORK, n. Y.

DisPLAY-i/inoi-iinn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammen oct. se, isis.,

lApplication ied July 13, 1909 Serial No. 507,348.

such as willenable others skilled in the art-Y to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The,invention relates to improvements in that vclass of display devices in which pictures or signs formed into or carried upon'a web are given an intermittent oiwstep-bystep movementsufficient to present them successively in a given position, as before'a display opening or the like.

.The object of the invention is to provide a device wholly mechanical in its construction, so as to avoid the well known troubles and uncertainties of operationincident to elec trical or magnetic control, and of such character that any desired number of web elements, up to the capacity of the machine, may be brought successively into accurate registry with the display opening or the like, and may then be automatically reversed and displayed again in reverse order, and so on until the machine is intentionally stopped. Webs of the character referred to will ordinarily be made of flimsy and fragile material, and aside from the fact that it is not always convenient or possible to make the web elements of exactly the same length, such webs suffer from the defect that the material of which they are made stretches or shrinks with changes of atmospheric conditions. Because of this inherent variation in the length of the web elements, it is necessary, if accurate registry is to be attained, that the web itself should control the stoppage or disconnection of the immediate web driving mechanism. Because of the fragile clnlracter of' the web, and for mechanical reasons, it is not feasible, however, to control a direct connection between the web driving mechanism and a continuously driven primary driving source by the web itself. lt is, on the contrary, desirable that the whole mechanism should operate, so far as possible, independently of the web., the controlling function of the web itself being confined to the mere disconnection of the immediate driving mechanism when the web section to bedisplayed has arrivedA at the desired position of registry. To these ends I provide a driving source connected through intermittent gearing to a driving element which I will call the primary web driving element in such manner as to impart thereto quite independently of the web, intermittent similar direction movements, preferably of equal extent, together with transmissiony mechanism between this element and the web, which mechanism l will call the secondary driving mechanism?, mechanism actuated by the web for disconnecting the secondary'- web driving mechanism from the primary web driving element so that the range of the intermittent movements effective on the web is curtailed by the web in accordance with the exact length of the particular web section to be displayed, and

mechanism independent of the web for automatically restablishing connection between the primary web ,driving element and the secondary web driving mechanism at timeV intervals corresponding with the yintermittent movements, and preferablyduring each period of dwell of the primary driving element so as to avoid the j ar and noise incident to the throwing of a. positive clutch while' the parts are rotating.

In some cases, as where a permanent web is to be displayed without change, it is sufficient that the automatic reversal-of the web shall always take place after a certain fixed number of intermittent movements; but for general use, it is highly desirable 'that the driving mechanism may conveniently be set to display beforelreversal any desired number within predetermined limits, of web elements, so that Webs of any desired number of elements may be displayed, Aor any consecutive number of web elements may be selected for display without displaying the remaining elements of the web. For'such purpose, l provide means by which the mechanism may be easily and quickly set so that the web will automaticallv reverse upon the completion of any chosen number of intermittent movements` and mechanism that these consecutive web elements chosen for display may be at either end of the web or at any interniediate'portion thereof.

lt is frequently necessary to change or adjust the web or other parts in machines of the character herein referred to, and, so

so organize the l far as l know, it has heretofore been customary for the operator to rely entirely upon his knowled e of the parts of the machine, and their re ative positions at di'erent stages, for information Which is necessary to enable him to properly start the machine agaimuch as the point and direction of web travel whenthe machine was stopped.

To avoid this, and enable the operator to get such information without observation of the mechanism, I provide indicating means showing, both when the machine is working and z)when it is stopped, the position the `mechanism has reached in vits step-b-y-step 'that it is possible to inclose it Within a closed box adapted to be filled with alubricant;

y and the connection of the mechanism to the immediate web driving shafts of themachine is such that the primary driving mechanism'with its inclosing box may easily and quickly be removed for repair or for. replacement by a like box .without disturbing vvthe immediate web-driving mechanism.

kmanner in which I I have also provided a simple and convenient mechanism for automatically illumimating the web during its periods of rest.

The mechanism by which these results are accomplished in accordance with my invention will be best understood by a consideration of the following-description and the accompanying drawings, which are lintended to disclose the preferred form.

In the drawings like reference characters are applied to like parts throughout and Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display cabinet with 4a portion of the casing broken away to show t-he inclosed driving mechanism in elevation. Fig. 9. isa. vertical seetion of the same parts on a larger scale, the section being taken on the line 252 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on theI line of Fig. 2, the floor of the web housing being broken away to better disclose the reel-driving mechanism and the intermediate controlling mechanism. and the driving motor being omitted to simplitv the illustration. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the control triggers for the reversing mechanism and Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the prefer to join together the over-lapping ,ends of the pictures or signs, which constitute the webA elements, to form them into a continuous web. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectionjoti the housing of the .gears in elevation.

" forms the floor of the driving mechanism showing the driving Fig. 9 is aplan View of the same parts. Fig. 10 is a section through the casing showing the driving gears in side elevation and in conjunction with the adjusting mechanism. Fig. 11 is an elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 1l-11 on Fig. 10, of the removable cover of the casing and the adjusting mechanism carried thereby. Fig. 12 is a face view of the front end of the housing for the driving mechanism showing the relation of the adjusting rod and indieatiny dials. Fig. 13 is a detail view of a vertica section taken in a plane coincident with the axis of the adjusting rod but showing the rod and attached parts in elevation. Fig. 14 is a view of one end ot' the housing showing the circuit controlling mechanism for the illuminating device. Fig. 15 is a view on the line 15-15 of Fig. S looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the transmission clutch between the driving motor and the driving gears. Fig. 1G is a view in elevation of the lower end of one of the reel-carrying shafts showing its step bearing, Fig. 17 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 1G; and Figs. 18 and 1l) ale detail views of a shifting lever 84.

My improved mechanism is illustrated in I conjunction with a display cabinet l, provided with a display opening which usually has a protecting closure 2 of glass or the like. In the construction shown the cabinet contains in its lower portion a housing 3 for the primary driving mechanism, a drivl ing motor illustrated at 4, the intermediate or secondary web driving mechanism and connecting rods and levers of the control triggers. Above these parts is a partition which compartment which contains the reels 5 and carrying the web 7, and this con'ipartlnent also contains a` pair of guide rollers 8 to hold the web in position before the display opening, the guide rollers being assisted in that function by longitudinal guide-ways 5) which receive the projecting ends of battens 10.

In the practical operation of that type ol display machines in which the web is made up of a series of individual web-elements joined end to end it will be of great advantage to have the individual battons counterparts of one another, thus requiring but a single style of batten instead ot' two distinctforms constituting each coacting pair. 'lo this end, and to provide a batten which may quickly and easily be slipped in the end loop of the web-element, and which will holdtlic web in place while two elements are being joined together. l have devised the construction particularly illustrated in Figs. and 7. Each hatten 10 has at one end a` fixed headed stud 12, and at the other end a notch or recess 11. Each batten also may have one the two battens together, each may have at one side of the said half way point a thread- -ed recess 110, and spaced the same distance on the other side of the said half way point the clearance holelll, the necessary number of headed fastening pins 112, threaded at the end, being providedto pass through clearance holes'lll and engage the threads of recesses 110 to fasten the battens together.

The end loops of the web-elements are correspondingly perforated so that as the battens `are slipped into the loops the studs 12 slip into the recesses 1l', holding the cloth in place until the battens are fastened together by studs 12 engaging notches 11, and pins 112, the threaded ends of which engage threaded recesses 110. Whenl so fastened the end of one batten projects at one edge of the web and the'end of the other batten projects at the other edge, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the guide-ways 9 being arranged to take the projecting batten ends as shown in Fig. 2.

The driving source for the machine 1s represented at 4: as an electric motor, the shaft of which carries a ratchet clutch 13-of which F ig. 15 is a face view, and from this view it will'be seen that when the motor shaft is driven in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 15, the clutch pinion 14 on that shaft engages the ratchet toes 15 to drive the drum 16 and the shaft which carries it, but for a relative rotation in the opposite direction he clutch disconnects. Drum 16 is carried l y a stub shaft 17 journaled inthe housing and carrying within the housing a pinion 18 which drives through the chain of speedreducing gears 19, the primary or driving member 20 of an intermittent gear. This member 20 carries the driving stud4 21 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10) which stud engages duringA a portion of each revolution of the member 20, one of the radial guides or channels in the secondary or driven member 22 of the intermittent gear, which driven member is mounted on a rotating sleeve 28 on shaft 241, and carries the l first lnember of a'chain of speed raising ears 25 which drive the clutch member 26 ree to rotate on the shaft 27. This clutch member 26 is the primary driving element abovereferred to and it will be seen that, by the transmitting mechanism thus far described the clutch member 2G is driven .periodically through a definite range of movement, the Inode of operation ofthe intermittent gear 2021 22 being that as soon as stud 21 engagesI one of the radial guides or channels. on member 22 it begins to turn that member, acting thereon at first through a long leverage and driving it at low speed. As stud l21 approachesthe lower surfaces portion of its arc the edective speed increases and the leverage decreases, and' as the stud rises again the speed decreases.- This character of movement is admirably adapt-f ed to driving a web of the character referred to, in a step-by-step manner, because it starts the web slowly and without overloading the driving motor, gradually increases its speed,

and then slows down again before the-`end of its movement.

For the reasons already explained, it ispractically essential that the web itself should control the stoppage or disconnection' of the immediate web driving mechanism'.

To provide for this, i interpose between the l primary driving element 2G and the web, the secondary web driving mechanism which will now be described.' The clutch member 2G is free to rotate on shaft 27 and co-acting with the member 26 is a spool 28 which is likewise free to rotate on the shaft, but is always in driving connection with the member 26 through the projections 29. This spool carries on the end opposite the member 26 the clutch teeth, as shown in Fig. 8, adapted to engage with the teeth of clutch member 30 secured to shaft 27, when thrown to the extreme left hand position.-

The form of clutch mechanism, made up of the driving member 2G, the spool 28 and the driven member 30, is of substantial importance in my apparatus, in which the clutch is shifted by the web itself. `It will be observed that the engagement-driving of this clutch mechanism are peripheral surfaces removed a substantial distance from the shaft and having a correspondingly higher speed. For a given transmitted horse power the force required to slide the engagement-driving-surfaces is inversely proportioned to the speed of the surfaces, and since this force is, in accordance with my invention, applied through the curtain itself, it is important to reduce it by thus removing the engagenlent-driving surfaces from the shaft and thereby increasing their velocity. This advantageous effect is increased to an important degree, in the preferred form of my invention, by imparting to the shaft 27 a higher angular velocity than would boneccssary to impart the desired speed to the web, and then interposing between thc shaft 27 and the web suitable speed reducing gears ln the forni of the invention illustrated. the speed rcdllcing gears consist of bevel wheels (37 on the ends of the reel shafts and engaged b v pinions (i6 on the ends of the transmission shafts of) and (30. This location of the speed reducing gears has the additional advantage that the transn'iission shafts and associated mechanism, including the clutch members.

actuating lever 31 which carries roller 32 lying between the flanges of spool 28, as illustrated in Figs-8 and 9. Lever 31 is carried vby a stub shaft 34 journaled in the top of housing 3 and carrying on the top of the housing a bell-crank lever 35 (see Fig. 3) which is rocked to shift the clutch by the web actuated mechanism illustrated particularly in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and comprising a three-armed lever 36 secured to the lower end of upright shaft 37 (see Fig. 2) which is journaled in the floor and ceiling of that portion of the cabinet which contains the reels and web, and carries at its upper end a second lever 36.

Each of the levers 36 andl 36 has jointed to it two connecting rods 38 extending in opposite directions to the Web-actuated re'- versing triggers 39 and 40. The construe tion of one of these triggers 40 is shown .in detail in Figs. 4 and 5, from which it will be seen that it comprises a lever arm 41 fulcrumed at 42 and to which the connecting rod 38 is j'ointed at 43. Pivoted on the for- .ward end of lever 4l is a bell-crank 44 having a heel 45 slotted at 46 to receive a pin on lever 4l. Pivoted on one end of bell crank 44 is the finger 47 which is engaged, in the particular construction shown, by the projecting end of a trailing hatten 10 as the web passes into such position that one of the pictures or signs is in register with the display opening. The finger 47 has a projet tion 4S whicliis normally held against pln 49 on` bell-crank 44 by the spring 50 attached at one end to finger 47 and at the other end to lever 4l. Fixed to the frame Work of the machine in the path of the short arm of bell crank 44 is a stop 51. The bell crank lever 35 on top of housing 3 together with the stub shaft'34 is normally drawn to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which it engages stop on the housing, by a spring 52 or by other suitable means. The operation of this clutch shifting device is as follows: llith the parts in the position shown, in Fig. 3, a picture or sign is in register with the display opening and the members of the driving' clutch within the housing 3 are in driving engagement. As the motor shaft rotates and drives primary lnember 20 olf the intermittent gear the stud 2l comes into one of the channels of the Secondary lnelnber 22 and gradually accelerates that men'xber. This acceleration being t ansnlitted to the member 3(3 and spool 2S through the gears 25. and through the clutch to the driving shaft 27, imparts to the driven web a corresponding movement. The range of movement of the primary dri v` ing element 26 is suilicient to insure 4a complete tra vel'se of one web element before the display opening when the driven reel has its minimum diameter. As the web moves i along, the battens 10 come into engagement shaft 54,

With the projecting fingexs 47. We will consider that the web is moving to the right in Fig. 3 and that the battens come into engagement with the lingers 47 of the triggers 40. The further movement of'the web moves lever 4l on its pivot, since for a movement in the'direction indicated the iingers 47 and levers 44 and 4l are in effect rigid. This movement pushes connecting rod 38 and turns lever 36 and 35 to disengage the clutch, which, of course, results in immediately stopping the driven reel. It Will be understood that this disengagement takes place autolnatically when the web has moved into the proper position, regardless of the diameter of the driven reel, and that as the diameter of the reel increases the result is merely that during the last portion of the movement of the driven member of the intermittent gear the member 26 and spool 28 turn idly on shaft 27. It will be observed that it would be sufficient, for the actuation of the web-stopping mechanism, to have a single pair of fingers 39 and 40 arranged either at the top or at the bottom of the web, but by using two fingers 39 and two fingers 40, arranged at both the top and bottom of the web, and in such position that they engage the trailing batten, they per-v form a new function in that they prevent the uneven stretching of the two edges of the web which has heretofore caused great inconvenience because of the resulting uneven winding at top and bottom; they serve to stretch the web across the display opening, and they reduce the stl'ain on the web by distributing it more evenly and by reason of the greater length of curtain between the restrained hatten and the winding reel.

It is desirable. to return the clutch to the engaging position while the web is at rest, so that when the driven member of the intermittent gear again begins its movement it may immediately pick up the web and start the movemgnt of the picture or sign. It is for this purpose that l have provided the peculiar construction of triggers shown. The web will be brought `to rest with the trigger in the position shown in Fig. 5, and it is necessary, in order to return the clutch to its engaging position. to withdraw the linger 47 from the vpath of the batten and permit the spring 52 to return the parts to the position shown in Fig. 4. To accomplish this. ity is necessary to move the trigger to the. right. in Figs. 4 and 5, by a pull on the connecting rod 38, and mechanism is provided for giving such a pull to the connecting rod. such mechanism comprising a curved cam finger 53 :(see Fig. 10) projecting into the path of movement of the stud 2l and mounted on the transverse rocking which shaft carries 9) engaging a notch in the arm 56 the clutch shifting lever 31. At

(see Fig. carrying a lever arm 55 through the cam finger 53, serves to with-.

the proper instant of time, before the stud 21 renters the channel of the driven member of the intermittent gear, it strikes the cam linger 53 and turns the arm 56 and shaft 34, which' turning movement is transmitted through the lever 36 to pull the connecting rod 38. This turns lever 41 further to the right, moving finger 47 away from the bat- `ten and permitting'spring 50 to collapse bell crank 44 on its pivot until the pin on lever 41 eng-ages 'the other end of slot 46, thereby shortening the trigger and permitting it to pass behind the batten as it is returned by the normal bias of the parts toward the left.A This movement continues until the toe of the short arm of bell crank 44 strikes stop 51 whereupon the lever is straightened out again into the position shown in Fig. 4, with the finger 47 in the ling lever 31 is shifted into the clutching position the faces of the clutch teeth will come into engagement with one another, preventing the interlocking of the clutch members until the parts begin to rotate, and it is to permit this that'lever 3lis jointed onto arm 56 and is held vieldingly in its straightened position by a spring 57, as illustrated in Fig. 9. A

It will be observed that in this construction, the primary driving mechanism acting draw and refset the trip finger and to reestablish connection between the primary driving elements and the secondary driving mechanism during each period of dwell of the primary driving element.

The foregoing `parts give the desired ccntrol of the secondary web driving mechanism by the web itself, and I will now describe the mechanism for reversing the travel of the web, and in this connection pointout that the construction of my improved device is such that the winding reel is-always the driven reel, the reel from which the web is being unwound remaining idle,4 so that the web is always under tension andI is thereby straightened and kept in good condition. The shaft 27 projects through the side walls of the housing 3 into the boxes 58,'each of which 'forms at its extremity a journal support for one of the reel-driving shafts 59 and 60. Each of these shafts carries Within the box 58 a fixed collar 61 having fingers" 62 projecting into slots in the hub of a sliding clutch spool 63, which carries on its other face clutch teeth adapted to engage with the clutch member 64 or 65 fast on shaft 27, and each of the reel-driving shafts 59k and 60 carries a bevel pinion 66 which pinions engage wheels 67 on the lower ends of the shafts of reels and 6, so that with the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 8, the reel 6 will be [driven to move the web in one direction, and when the clutch spools 63 'are shifted to their other extreme position the drum 5`will be driven to move the web in the opposite direction. The shifting of the clutch spools 63. is accomplished by the mechanism which is best illustrated in Figs.

9, 10 and 11.

`Within the casing 3 is an upright screw 68 carrying a running nut 69 and driven in one direction or the other by bevel pinion 70 and the intermeshing bevel wheels 71 and` 72, each of these bevel wheels 71 and72 being connected to or made integral with the secondary member of an intermittent gear 73 or 74 similar to the gear 20m21-22, the primary or driving members of which are mounted on a shaft 77 which is slidablv journaled in a bracket 78 within Vcasing and which carries a gear-wheel 79 driven by a chain of gears 80 from the intermittent 'gear member 20, so that for each rotation of member 20 a definite degree of rotation is given to gear 79 and consequently to worm 68 through Whichever of the driving members 75 or 76 is in actuating position. Assuming that the parts are in such position that the screw 68'is rotated to move the nut 69 toward its lowest position, the nut, which is guided by a guide rod 81 on the casing, will eventually engage the stop 82 on adjusting screw 83, thereby depressing that screw and carryingdown the end of three-part lever 84-91 pieces 85 'on screw 83, as indicated in Fig. 13, and shifting that lever to the position shown in Fig. 11, in which it is held by 'spring 86, until thrown over the center when reverse position, to reverse the travel of the Vdisplay web. On the stationary supporting bracket for shaft 77 is an arm 87 havingV a segmental gate 88 which coacts with a similar gate 89 on the hub of gear-wheel 79, to restrain the shiftingof the shaft 77, when the two members of either ofthe associated intermittent gears are in engagement. It is to permit this restraint ofthe shifting 92, which is engaged by cheekmovement without injury to the 'moving parts that lever 84 is constructed of three parts, which are shown in detail in Figs. 18 and 19, these parts being the lower part 84, the middle part 91 and the upper part 92,l pivoted to one another as shown, the, parts Stand 91` being held together by a spring 93' and the parts 91 and 92 being held together by a spring 91. Vith this construction, when the tendency is to turnthe upper part in a clockwise directionfas seen in Fig. 19, to shift shaft 77 to the right in Fig. 11, and this shifting is restrained by the gates 88 and 89, the spring 94 wil-l yield until the gates are in position to pass one another and will then shift the shaft 77. lf the tendency is to move the shaft 77 in a counterclock- Wise direction, the member 84 will in like manner turn on its pivot, being permitted to do so by the spring 93, which will shift the shaft 77 at the proper time. It Will be seen that with this arrangement of parts the gearing is shifted to reverse the direction of movement of-the web when the traveler 69 engages the stop 82, or as soon thereafter as the shiftingmove'ment is permitted by gates 88 and 89. To prevent reversal of the web When it is moving, lgears 8O are so set j that one or the other of the intermittent gears on shaft 7 7 and consequently gates 8S and 89 are always in engagement While the two members of gear 20-'21-22 are driving the web. The reversingmechanism l'thus constituted is characterized by the fact that it 'is driven directly from the primary drivlng mechanism and is quite independent of versal should occur when a Web element has' been but partly exposed; and the last web the web, sorthat the primary driving mechanism Will bel reversed with certainty after a pre-determined numberof intermittent movements ofthe primary'driving element, independently ofthe extent of movement of the Web; inde'ed, whether there is a web in the machine or not. Furthermore, it is'assured that the reversal shall take yplace after the completion of the intermittent movement of the primary driving element, and p consequently during a period of dwell of the web, so that it is impossible that the reelement is fully exposed and displayed for the usual interval of, time.

Itoften happens, as I. have already said, that it is the desire to change the number of pictures or signs exhibited, or the length of the traveling web, but with all types of eX- hibiting machines with which I am familiar, .it has been impossible to do this without changing the structure of the machine, and ithas consequently been the practice to make concessions to advertisers to till up the web, or in some cases, to run blank sections. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a mechanism whereby the number of pictures or signs displayed, may.

j guided by the rod 81, and on the. upper end of screw 83 on top of the casing is a thumb wheel which may be turned at will to raise or lower the stop 82. For the purpose of indicating the number of web elements which will be exhibited during the travel ol the web in each direction, l provide on the shaft 83 a worm-wheel 96 meshing with a gear 97 on a stub-shaft mounted in the `tace of casing 3, which stub-shaft carriesI on the outside of the casing a marked dial or pointer 98 surrounded by a scale 99 and for the purpose of indicating the number of web elements which have been displayed at 'any time, I place on worm (i8 a similar order that this indicating device may be ."i

a small part of the period olf movement o the primary driving element, leaving ample time between the movements of Ithe indicator for the shifting movements of reversal, and thereby insuring that tlu` indication should be definite and unmietakable, that the intermittent gearing is inten posed between the primary driving mecha-- nism and the worml (38 of the reversing mechanism. Furthermore, thumb wheel 95 has a peripheral notch engaged by spring 116 to insurethe proper range of movement of adjustable stop 82 at each setting, 'and by reason of the fact that screw 83 is lifted in one direction o f movement and depressed in ,the other direction of movement,'the position of thumb wheel 95, up or down, with respect to the spring 116, indicates the direction in which the web is or has been moving and the direction in which it will move when moved during themachine is started. It will be secu that For instance, suppose a new web of ar given number of sections is to be installed by a person who 1s unable to examine the mechamsm within the b ox 3, or who is incompetent to understand the mechanism whenit is ex- Y posed. In such case the dial 98 will show by its position with respect to the scale 99 the present setting of the mechanism with re spect to the number of sections ot' web which the machine is set to display. The dial 192,

lli5

insecte by its position, with relation to scale 103 will show the sequence number of the web element which was displayed at the time'when the old curtain was removed; and the position of the thumb wheel with respect to the spring- `116 will show the direction in which the mechanism will drive the web. By turning the thumb wheel 95, the mechanism may be adjusted to display the number. of web elements of which the new curtain is" made up, or any desired consecutive number of those elements. The most convenient procedure is then to run the mechanism without the web until the pointer 102 points to the zero mark on scale 103, and then to connect the free end of the web to that reel to which the driving mechanism is connected, as indicated by the position of the thumb wheel 95 with respect to the spring 110. lf it, is desired to display a consecutive number of web elements less than the whole number, and located between the ends, then it is most convenient to instal the web as above descx'ibed and operate it until the first web element which it is desired to display arrives at the display opening and then manipulate the lever 35 to hold the clutch member 30 out of engaging position and run the mechanism until the, pointer 102 points to the zero mark of the scale 103. The direction controlling device and the device controlling the number of elements to be ,displayed may then be set to display the desired number of web elements. lt is frequently desirable, especially when the web of a machine of this character is to be changed or adjusted, to be able to reversel the direction of travel of the web at any point in its series of step-by-step movements and the construction of reversing mechanism above described is adapted to that purpose. `lf thel operator desires to reverse the direction of travell of the web at any point it is only necessary for h'im to raise the thumb wheel 95 if it is depressed, or depress it if it is raised, thereby throwing lever 8.4.-.-91-92 and shifting the clutches'to reverse the direction of movement of the web, and, at the same time, the

direction of travel of traveling nut 69.

It is desirable to illuminate the web when it is ati-est and to extinguish the iight when the web is moving and to this end l provide contact fingers 104 (see `Figs. 9 and 1l) supported at one end on an insulated stud 105 and adapted to be pressed together by a lever 106 pivoted on a collar surrounding shaft 60 and thrownv into the circuit closing position by a pin 107 the inner end of which engages with a raised cam 108 on the side of gear-member 20 (see Fig. 8), the cam being so placed that the circuit is closed .while the web is at rest and is open when the web is moving.

that my invention includes a number -of specific features which in combination make up an eilicient display device, and it will be obvious that to a large extent the individual sub-combinations of elements may be utilized separately each with its own peculiar advantage, and it will further be realized that in such a machine involving the employment of many mechanical parts it is possible to change the structural embodiment of the invention by substituting for the several parts their mechanical equivalents without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is z- 1. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the web to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanismfor the web, a disengageable connection between the primary driving element and the secondary driving mechanism, and mechanl sm actuated by the web -for disengaging said connection during an intermittent movement of the primary driving element, whereby the transmission of the intermittent movements to the web is ,curtailed by the web to correspond with theliength of the particular section thereof to betdisplayed.

2. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the web to display successive lsections thereof, said mechanism including a length of the particularV section thereof to be displayed.

3. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to` the web to display successive 'sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, mechanism for imparting to the said element successive gradually accelerated intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanism for the web, a disengageable connection between the primary driving elementand the secondary driving mechanism, mechanism actuated by the web for disengaging said connection during an intermittent movement of the primary driving element whereby the transmission of the intermittent movements to the web is curtailed by with the length of the' particular direction thereof t0 be displayed. i v

4. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the web to display successive Sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanism for the web, a disengageable connection between the primary driving element and the secondary driving mechanism, and mechanism actuated by the web for disengaging -said connection during'an intermittent movement of the primary driving element whereby the transmission of the intermittent movements to the web is curtailed by the web to correspond with the length of the. particular section thereofl to be displayed, and mechanism for rengaging the connection during a period of rest of the primary driving element.

5. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the web to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, mechanism for imparting to the said element. intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanism for the web, a disengageable connection with the primary driving element and the secondary driving mechanisnn'and mechanism actuated by the web -for disengaging said connection during an intermittent movement of the primary driving element whereby the transmission of the interniitteiit movement to the web is curtailed by the web to correspond with the length of the particular section thereof to be displayed, and mechanism actuated by the driving mechanism for the primary driving element for rengaging the connection during a. period of rest of the primary driving element.

A display device having a display web and. mechanism for imparting intermittent movements tothe web to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanism for the web, a disengageable connection between the primary driving element and the secondary driving mechanism and mechanism including trip fingers actuated by the web for disengaging said connection during an intermittent movement of the primary driving element whereby the transmission of the intermittent movement of the web is curtailed by the web to correspond with the length of the particular section thereof to be displayed, and mechanism for rengaging the connection and re-setting the trip fingers during a period of rest of the primary driving element.

the web to correspond 7. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the web to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanism for the web, a disengageable connection between the primar f driving element of the secondary driving mechanism and mechanism including trip fingers actuated by the web for disengaging said connection during an intermittent movement of'tlie primary driving element whereby the transmission of the intermittent movement to the web is cui'- tailed 4by the web to correspond with 'the length of the particular section thereof to be displayed, and mechanism actuated by the driving mechanism of the primary driving element for rengaging the connection and re-setting the trip fingers during a period of rest of the primary driving element.

8. A display device having a display web,

a pair of reels for the web, a driving motor,l

a driven shaft, and clutch members for clutching the reels alternately to the driven shaft to draw the web back and forth past a display opening, in combination with an intermittent gear adapted to start the shaft at reduced speed and to subsequently increase the speed to the desired maximum, and driving connections-including a clutch between the intermittent gear and the said shaft, whereby the intermittent periods of driving of the web may be curtailed.

9. A display device having a display web, a` pair of reels for the web, a driving motor, a driven shaft, and clutch members for clutching the reels alternately to the driven shaft to draw the web back and forth past a display opening, in combination with an intermittent gear adapted to start the shaft at reduced speed and to subsequently increase .the speed to the desired maximum, driving connections including a clutch between the intermittent gear and the said shaft, whereby the intermittent periods of driving of the web may be curtailed, and mechanism actuated by the web for disengaging the members of the last-named clutch, i'vhereby accurate registry of the web sections with the display opening is assured.

l0. A display device having a display web, a driving means, a reel for the web, intermittent gearing and driving connections between the drivino means and the )riniar `ing mechanism to automatically reverse the lsecondary drivmg mechanism aiter a pre- :amazes web, a driving means, a reel for the web, intermittent gearing and driving connections between the driving means and the pri-4 mary member of the intermittent gearing, in combination with va clutch 'having one member geared to the secondary member of the intermittent gearing and the other member geared to the said reel, disengaging mechanism for the clutch members actuated by the web at everv intermittent movement, and mechanism for restoring the clutch members to engagement during each period oi' rest of thc web.

12. A display device having a display web, a driving means, a reel for the web, intermittent gearing and driving connections between the driving means and the primary member of the intermittent gearing, in combination with a clutch having one member geared to the secondary member and the other member geared to the said reel, dis

engaging mechanism for the clutch members actuated by the web at every intermittent movement, and mechanism actuated by the primary 'member of the intermittent gearing during each period of rest oi' the secondary .member, for restoring the clutch members to engagement.

13. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting to the web intermittent movements to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, primary driving mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, reversible secondary drivingmechanism controlled by the web to transmit to the web portions of the intermittent movements corresponding in duration to the length of the individua] web sections to be displayed, and reversing mechanism actuated by the primary drivdetermined number of intermittent movements of the primary driving element and independently of the extent of movement of the web.

14. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the web to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, primary driving mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, reversible secondary driving mechanism controlled by the web to transmit to the web portions of the intermittent movements corresponding in duration to the length of the individual web sections to be displayed, and reversing mechanism actuated by the primary driving mechanism to automatically reverse the seclary d'^"iving mechanism of primary uit and independently of the 5 ovein al; 'the web, said revers` mechanism including a hand operated element for reversing ing mechanism at will.

l5. 'A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to theweb to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a primary driving element, mechanism `for impartingto the said element intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanism for the web including speed reducing gearing, a trip clutch between the primary driving element and the secondary driving mechanism, said clutch having a greaterangular velocity than would be required to drive the web at the desired speed and mechanism actuated by the web for disengaging said clutch during an intermittent movement of the primary driving element whereby the transmission of the intermittent movements to the web is curtailed by the web to correspond with the length of the particular section thereof to be displayed.`

the secondary driv 16. A display' device having a display i termittent movements, secondary driving mechanism for the web including speed reducing gearing, a trip clutch Whose engagementdriving surfaces are peripherally ar ranged between the primary driving element and the secondary driving mechanism, said clutch having greater angular velocity than would be required to drive the web at the desired speed, and mechanism actuated by the web for disengaging said clutch during an intermittent movement of the primary driving element whereby the transmission of the intermittent movement to the web is curtailed by the web to correspond with the lengthof the particular section thereof to be displayed.

17. A display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements tothe web to display successive sections thereof, said ntfechanism including a primary driving elemena mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, secondary driving mechanism ated clutch having a greater angular velocity than would be required to drivethe Web at the desired speed, and speed. reducing gearing between the clutch andthe web.

, 19. In a display device having a display web, mechanism for imparting; intermittent movements te the web, including a web actuated clutch Whose engagement driving-surfaces are peripherally arranged, and having greater-angular velocity than would bc required to drive the Web the desired speed, and speed reducing gearing` between the clutch and the web.

20. In a display device having a display Web, mechanisn for imparting; intermittent movements to the web, including a web actuated clutch Whose engagement driving snrlfaces are peripherally arranged.

2l. ln a display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the webs means for curtailingi' the range of the 'individual movements in accordance with the lengths oi' the Web sections to be displayed, including a disconnecting mechanism and anactnating finger therefor projecting into the path of the Web to be engaged and moved thereby, the parts being so arranged that the finger is engaged by the trailingcnd of the displayed portion of the web.

22. In a display device having a display web and mechanism for imparting 'thereto intermittent movements, means for curtailing the range of the individual movements in accordance with the length of the web sections to be displayed including a disconnecting mechanism and two actuating tingers therefor projecting respectively at the two edges of the web into the path thereof .to be engaged and moved thereby, the parts being so arranged that the lingers are cngaged by the trailing end of the displayed portion of the web.

23. A display device having` a display Web,` a driving means, a reel for the web,

and connections including a clutch between the driving means and the reel for driving the Web intern'iittently, in combination with a disengagmg mechanism :tor the clutch vmembers actuated by the web at every intermittent movement and mechanism for restoring the clutch members to engagement during each period of rest of the vveb.

2e. A display7 device having a display web, a driving,r means, a reel. for the web7 and connections including` a clutch between the driving means and the reel for driving the web intermittently, in combination with disengaging mechanism for the clutch members including an actuating inger projected i into the path of the Web to be engaged and moved thereby at every intermittent movement, -and mechanism for Withdrawn@ the inger from thepath oi the web and return Licence ing it to Vits initial position during cach period of rest of the web.

25. A display device having a traveling display wel), mechanism for moving' the web step-by-stcp to display succcssivc scctions thereof` and c.. controlling trigger for the web comprising an arm, an elbow lcvcr having a .limited pivotal moicmcnt on thc arm, a spring tending to turn the lever ou its pivot into collapsed position7 a finger ou the elbow lever, means for normally holdinc the elboiv lever with thc linger projectin d into the path on" the web. agigaiiist thc action ot said spring:avhcreby thc linger is engaged and moved by the web, and mcchanism for moving the arm ahead oli' the web when the web is at rest to permit the tri ggcr to collapsd and for then returning the trigger to its normal position 2li. A. display (lcvicr` lmfvingl a traveling display web, mechanism for moving; thc 'web step-b v-step to display succcssivc scctions thcreoi", and reversing mechanism actuated automatically aitcr a prcdctcrmiucd numlcr of intermittent movements of the web in one directimi to reverse its direction of travel, said automatic reversing` mcchanism being;- operable by hand to rcvcrsc thc direction oit' travel at ivilh and means ior withholding the reversal until the web has como to rest.

i display device havingV a traf-:cling web and reversing mechanism thcre'l'or including a double clutch` a reversing lever for shifting tl'ie clutch, and a traveler to actuate the lever, said lever bcii'rgr yielding?,T in both directions to permit the continued movement of the traveler until the clutch members como into proper interlocking position.

2S. rEhe combination with mcchanisn'i .for driving' a display web in a step-b v-stcp manner and adjustable mechanism for automatically reversing vthe direction ot travel at any chosen point in its number olf movements7 of indicating` mechanism actuated thereby to show thc point which said drivingmechanism has reached in its number ot movements and the chosen position of' adjustment of the automaticl reversing mechanism.

QSL rlhe cou'ibiiiation with mechanism for driving a display web in a stcp-by-step manner and adjustable mechanism for automatically reversing' the dircction of travel at any chosen point in its number of movements, of indicating` mcchauisu'i actuated thereby to shovv the point which said driving' mechanism has reached in its number oi movements. its direction ot drive and thc chosen position of adjustment ol the automatic reversing mechanism.

3G. A displayr device having a display web and mechanism for imparting intermittent movements to the Web to display suocessi ve sections thereof, said mechanism. in clnding a primary driving element, primary driving mechanism for imparting to the said ient a series oi similar direction interni ttent movements, and secondary driving AMechanism controlled by the wel) to transinit to the weh portions of the intermittent nieven'icnts corresponding in duration to the length oi the individual web sections to he displayed, in combination with a position imiicating device actuated by the primary driving n'iechanism and showing the pos'r tion which the primary driving mechanism has reached in the series oi" similar direction movements.

3l. A display device having a display wel) and mechanism for in'iparting intermittent movements to the weh to display successive sections thereof, said mechanism including a priniary driving element, primary driving merhanism for imparting 'to the said element successive similar direction interniittent movements, reversible secondary driving mechanism controlled by the web to transmit to the wel) portions of the intermittent movements corresponding in duration to the length of the individual weh sections to he displayed, in combination With a direction indicating device showing thel direction oil drive of the secondary driving mechanisn'i and a position indicating device showing `the position which the primary d ri ving mechanism has reached in the series ot similar direction movements.

liz. fr display devicephaving a display vfeh and niecl'ninism for imparting intermittent movements to the web to display succ ssive sections thereof, said mechanism in-l cluding a primary driving element, primary driving mechanism for imparting to the said element successive similar direction .intermittent movements, reversible secondary driving mechanisn'i controlled by the web to transmit to the web portions of the intermittent movements corresponding in duration to the length oia the individual weh seeiions to he displayed, and adjustable mechani. n `for automatically reversingy the direc n et drive o'lf the secondary driving mechiism at any chosen point in the series oi similar direction movements, in comhination with a direction iin'l'icating device showing the direction oi drive of the secondary driving` niechai'iisn'i, a position indicating dcvice showing the position which the nii-achanisni has reached in the series o'lt similar dirrction inovenwnts.y and an adjustment indieating device sl'io'xvingij the chosen position oi' adinstment of the antonuitie reversing ein or mechanism for driving so '."tently and .rr dependently, devices `er 'ed by the traveling member and projecrng from the edge thereof,v a .lever arranged to he engaged hy such devices, a second lever mounted on the framen'orl, a. rod connecting said levers, and means wherehy such second lever may disconnect the driving mechanism from the winding rollers.

it it display device having a display 'wel-i; and mechanisn'i lor imparting intermittent moveincnts to the web to display successi ve sections thereof, said inecl'ianism including a primary driving element, primary driving mechanism tor imparting to the said element intermittent movements, reversi hle secondory dri ving mechanism controlled hy the web to transmit to the weh portions of the intermittent movements corr-espending` sections thereof, said mechanism including ay primary driving elei'nen"I primary driving mechanism for imparting to the said element intermittent movements, reversible sec ondary driving mechanism controlled hy the web te transniit to the web portions of' the intermittent movements ,corresponding in duration to the length oi the individual web sections to he displayed, a reversing mechanism actuated hy 'the primary driving ele.

ment to automatically reverse the secondary driving mcchanisn'i :liter a predetermined number of intermittent movements of the primary driving element and indepeni'lently ol" the extent ol movement oilvl the weh, a manually operable device l'or adjnstingij the reversing meclmnisin to change the number oi? intermittent n'iovements between reversals, and an adjustment indicating` device showings the chosen position oi adjustment of the nieclmnism.

.in testimony vfwrefrlT il ai'lix my signature, in presence ot tivo witnesses. 

